NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

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INCIDENTS

Canaveral NS

Surfer Bitten By Shark

On January 20th, J.M., 20, was bitten on the left foot while sitting on his surfboard about 50 yards from shore. He quickly paddled to the beach, thinking that he'd suffered a jellyfish sting. When he looked at the side of his foot, though, he was shocked to find three round, bloody holes. Ranger Kathy Roman responded to his 911 call and administered first aid. J.M. declined ambulance transport to a hospital, but went there himself and was admitted. Small shark tooth fragments were removed from his wounds. Despite the scare and the injury, J.M. told Roman that he's looking forward to returning to surfing every day. [Eric Lugo, Chief Ranger]

National Capital Parks East

Woman Rescued From Washington Channel

A woman was rescued from the Washington Channel early last Thursday morning following a coordinated effort by emergency personnel from several agencies. A call came in just after midnight reporting that a woman was in the channel, which runs between East Potomac Park and Southwest Washington. United States Park Police, Metropolitan Police Department, and D.C. Fire Department harbor units responded and began a search for her. While doing so, they heard what appeared to be a woman's scream, and subsequently found her barely hanging on to the seawall at Haines Point. Sensing that she was in imminent peril, officers and rescue personnel jumped into the water to prevent her from drowning. USPP sergeant Robert Steinheimer and officer John Zarate assisted and were able to pull the woman onto a rescue boat. The woman was flown to an area hospital by Eagle One, the Park Police helicopter, where she was admitted in critical condition with apparent hypothermia. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, US Park Police]

Cuyahoga Valley NP

Body Of Probable Suicide Victim Found

A park visitor found the body of a 46-year-old woman in the Octagon day use area on the afternoon of January 13th. Rangers responded along with Peninsula PD officers, Valley FD personnel, and representatives from the Summit County medical examiner's office. The woman's body was found about 30 yards from a trail between two boulders with a handgun lying nearby. Although the case remains open and is being investigated by rangers, it appears that the woman shot herself. [Chris Ryan, Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external):

Lincoln Memorial - Ceremonies commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday were held last Friday at Interior and at the Lincoln Memorial, where elementary school students recited the entire “I Have A Dream” speech.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6155" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6155

Capital Training Center - The recipients of this year's Albright-Wirth employee development grants have been announced. Also included are short descriptions of their projects.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6156" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6156

Governors Island NM - The first general management plan/draft environmental impact statement has been prepared for Governors Island National Monument and is now available for public comment.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6150" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6150

Northeast Region - Michael Reynolds has been named deputy regional director for Northeast Region. He will begin his assignment in Philadelphia by March 1st.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1809" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1809

Yosemite NP - Clair Roberts, protection ranger at Yosemite, is retiring after 26 years of service with the NPS.

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1808" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1808

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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